Approached by a buyer for your business? What to do next
Updated 6 Nov 2026
The short answer
If a buyer has approached you, do not reply with numbers straight away. Check who they are and who backs them, sign a non-disclosure agreement before sharing anything, and work out your own valuation range first. One interested buyer is not a competitive process, so before you negotiate, decide whether to deal with them alone or test the market with an adviser. DealFlowAgent reviews approaches, offers and heads of terms free of charge and in confidence.
Why owners are being approached
In building services, facilities management and healthcare, private equity backed groups are buying local businesses at pace. Many have dedicated teams whose job is to find owners and start conversations, often by email, LinkedIn or a phone call to the managing director. An approach usually means your business fits a buyer's map. It does not mean the buyer's first number reflects what your business is worth.
Step 1: Find out who the buyer really is
- Is the approach from the acquiring company itself, its private equity owner, or a third party using their name?
- Who owns the buyer, and when did that owner invest? A newly backed group is usually under pressure to complete deals.
- How many acquisitions has it made, and what happened to the businesses it bought? Do they keep their name and team?
Our buyer profiles list each active buyer's owners, sourced acquisitions and what they look for.
Step 2: Share nothing before an NDA
A first call is fine. Accounts, customer lists, contract values, staff details and pricing are not, until a non-disclosure agreement is signed. Buyers in your sector may also be your competitors.
Step 3: Know your number before they give you theirs
Work out a realistic range from your adjusted profit, the share of revenue that is contracted and recurring, your accreditations and how much of the business depends on you. Our valuation guides show 2026 ranges by sector, and you can get a free valuation and buyer list.
Step 4: Understand what a single buyer means
When only one buyer is at the table, it sets the pace, the price and the terms. Most sectors we cover have several active buyers at once. The question is whether you are happy to accept one buyer's view of your business, or want to know what others would pay.
Step 5: Decide: negotiate alone or bring in an adviser
Negotiating alone can work if you know the buyer, the price is clearly fair and the terms are simple. Owners who use an adviser usually do so to create competition between buyers, to keep the business running while the sale happens, and to have someone check the terms that move the final amount you receive, such as working capital, deferred payments and warranties. Whichever you choose, get any written offer checked before you sign.
Step 6: If an offer or heads of terms arrive
Read our guide to heads of terms and letters of intent before you sign. The headline price is only part of the offer. Exclusivity, how much is paid at completion, earn-outs and working capital terms often matter as much.
Free confidential review of your approach or offer
If you have been approached, or have an offer or heads of terms in front of you, send it to us. We will tell you who the buyer is, how the offer compares with the market and what we would question, free and in confidence, with no obligation to appoint us. Book a confidential chat.
Book a confidential chat
Free, confidential review of any approach, offer or heads of terms.
Or get a free valuation and buyer list first
FAQs
Should I reply to a buyer who has emailed me?
Yes, a polite reply costs nothing. Thank them, say you are open to a conversation, and avoid giving figures or sending documents until you have checked who they are and signed an NDA.
How do I know if a buyer's offer is fair?
Compare it with recent ranges for your sector and size, and look at how much is paid at completion versus later. A free valuation gives you a benchmark before you negotiate.
Will the buyer walk away if I bring in an adviser?
Serious buyers deal with advised sellers all the time. A well-run process usually speeds up due diligence because the information is prepared in advance.
Can I talk to other buyers after being approached?
Yes, unless you have signed exclusivity. That is why it matters not to sign heads of terms before you have considered your options.
What does DealFlowAgent's free review include?
A confidential call, a view on who the buyer is and how active they are, how the offer compares with the market, and the points we would question. There is no obligation.
Does this apply to US businesses?
Yes. The steps are the same; in the US the written offer is usually called a letter of intent (LOI).
Read the audio transcript
This is an adapted spoken edition from Deal Flow Agent. The complete article, acquisition history and source links are available on this page. Information is current as at the sixth of November, twenty twenty six.
Approached by a buyer for your business? What to do next
The short answer
If a buyer has approached you, do not reply with numbers straight away. Check who they are and who backs them, sign a non-disclosure agreement before sharing anything, and work out your own valuation range first. One interested buyer is not a competitive process, so before you negotiate, decide whether to deal with them alone or test the market with an adviser. Deal Flow Agent reviews approaches, offers and heads of terms free of charge and in confidence.
Why owners are being approached
In building services, facilities management and healthcare, private equity backed groups are buying local businesses at pace. Many have dedicated teams whose job is to find owners and start conversations, often by email, LinkedIn or a phone call to the managing director. An approach usually means your business fits a buyer's map. It does not mean the buyer's first number reflects your business valuation.
Step 1: Find out who the buyer really is
Is the approach from the acquiring company itself, its private equity owner, or a third party using their name?
Who owns the buyer, and when did that owner invest? A newly backed group is usually under pressure to complete deals.
How many acquisitions has it made, and what happened to the businesses it bought? Do they keep their name and team?
Our buyer profiles list each active buyer's owners, sourced acquisitions and what they look for.
Step 2: Share nothing before a non disclosure agreement
A first call is fine. Accounts, customer lists, contract values, staff details and pricing are not, until a non-disclosure agreement is signed. Buyers in your sector may also be your competitors.
Step 3: Know your number before they give you theirs
Work out a realistic range from your adjusted profit, the share of revenue that is contracted and recurring, your accreditations and how much of the business depends on you. Our valuation guides show 2026 ranges by sector, and you can get a free valuation and buyer list.
Step 4: Understand what a single buyer means
When only one buyer is at the table, it sets the pace, the price and the terms. Most sectors we cover have several active buyers at once. The question is whether you are happy to accept one buyer's view of your business, or want to know what others would pay.
Step 5: Decide: negotiate alone or bring in an adviser
Negotiating alone can work if you know the buyer, the price is clearly fair and the terms are simple. Owners who use an adviser usually do so to create competition between buyers, to keep the business running while the sale happens, and to have someone check the terms that move the final amount you receive, such as working capital, deferred payments and warranties. Whichever you choose, get any written offer checked before you sign.
Step 6: If an offer or heads of terms arrive
Read our guide to heads of terms and letters of intent before you sign. The headline price is only part of the offer. Exclusivity, how much is paid at completion, earn-outs and working capital terms often matter as much.
Free confidential review of your approach or offer
If you have been approached, or have an offer or heads of terms in front of you, send it to us. We will tell you who the buyer is, how the offer compares with the market and what we would question, free and in confidence, with no obligation to appoint us. Book a confidential chat.
Frequently asked questions
Should I reply to a buyer who has emailed me?
Yes, a polite reply costs nothing. Thank them, say you are open to a conversation, and avoid giving figures or sending documents until you have checked who they are and signed a non disclosure agreement.
How do I know if a buyer's offer is fair?
Compare it with recent ranges for your sector and size, and look at how much is paid at completion versus later. A free valuation gives you a benchmark before you negotiate.
Will the buyer walk away if I bring in an adviser?
Serious buyers deal with advised sellers all the time. A well-run process usually speeds up due diligence because the information is prepared in advance.
Can I talk to other buyers after being approached?
Yes, unless you have signed exclusivity. That is why it matters not to sign heads of terms before you have considered your options.
What does Deal Flow Agent's free review include?
A confidential call, a view on who the buyer is and how active they are, how the offer compares with the market, and the points we would question. There is no obligation.
Does this apply to US businesses?
Yes. The steps are the same; in the US the written offer is usually called a letter of intent.